Instrument for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns and for testing the correctness of the aiming.



No. 729,290. PATBNTED MAY 26, 1903.

' C. J. A. DICK. .INSTRUMENTPOR INDIOATING AND RECORDING THE AIMING OFNAVAL GUNS AND FOR TESTING THE GORREGTNESS OF THE AIMING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23 1901.

N0 MODEL.

Patented May 26, 1903. PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES JAMES ADOLPI'I DICK, OF LYSAKER, NORWAY.

INSTRUMENT FOR INDICATING AND RECORDINGTHE AiMlNG F NAVAL GUNS AND FORTESTING THE CORRECTNESS OF THE AIMING.

.rlPEClIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,290, dated May26, 1903. Application filed September 23,1901 berial No. 76,217. (Nomodel.)

To all 10. 1.0112 it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES JAMES ADOLPH DICK, a subject of the King ofEngland, and a resident of Lysaker, near ChristianiaJn the Kingdom ofNorway, have invented a new or improved instrument for indicating andrecording the aiming of naval guns at the moment of firing or supposedfiring, for testing the correctness or incorrectness of the aiming, andfor aiming such guns, of which the following is a specification.

The rolling and pitching motions experienced by a ship at sea make itexceedingly difficult for naval gunners to take correct aim at a targetor hostile vessel.

The subject of this invention is an instru-' ment intended to be usedmainly for training the gunners to overcome the above-mentioneddifficulties without necessitating the actual firing of the gun. Forthis purpose the direction and movement of the gun at the moment offiring with regard to the hori zontal plane and the object aimed at areaccurately recorded. One can thus after the gun has been fired or issupposed to have been fireddetermine definitely the, direction in whichthe gun was pointing and moving'at the given moment. There can thereforebe no difference of opinion as to whether the gunner aimed correctly andwhether the mark would presumably have been'hit if'the gun had actuallybeen fired at that moment.

The invention consists of several marking devices lying continually in ahorizontal plane, which marking devices at the moment of firing marktheir positions on a surface which moves with the ship, and consequentlywith the gun. On this surface the horizontal plane is already marked bya line, so as to enable one to compare the position ofthe gun at themoment of firing with the horizontal plane.

Byattaching a sighting apparatus, with which aim is taken at the mark,the position of a marking device lying in the sighting-line with regardto a vertical plane situated parallel to the longitudinal axis of thegun is recorded, thus showing lateral deviations.

The addition of a sighting arrangement allows of the instrument beingalso used for aiming the gun. 'lhis'contrivance does not affect its usefor marking the position and movement of the gun relatively to thehorizontal plane atthe moment of firing or supposed firing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan viewofagun-sighting and aimrecording device made in accordance with myinvention. Fig. l is an enlarged section of part of said device. Fig. 2is a transverse section on the line A A, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transversesection on the line B B, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the two elements of the sighting device, andFigs. 5 and 6 are views illustrating a special construction of part ofthe recording devices.

The instrument, as shown, consists of a disk 01,, which turns freelyinside a shell or casing b on a point 0 or on a ball-and-socket joint,and it is kept constantly in a horizontal position by the weight 01,like the card of aships compass, thusbeing independent of "the rollingand pitching of the ship. On one side of the disk there are several-forin stance, three or fivemarking devices which are in the same plane withone another and with the'point of suspension of the disk (1.

:Suitable mechanism enables these marking devices-to be pushed forwardradially and drawn back again. The drawings show marking-points'eattached to small pistons f, which move inside cylinders. These,cylinders are connected by, tubes g h with an india-rubber ball 2'. Oncompressing this ball the marking-points e are first forced outward bythe compressed air and on releasing the ball they are returned to theirnormal positions by springs or otherwise.

The disk a is supplied with two sights m n, which determine averticalplane in which also the center marking device and the point ofsupport of the disk are situated. These sights are aimed at the mark. Toenable this to be done, the disk a must be capable of being turned. Thismay be efiected by the help of a tube 71., which is connected with thecenter of the disk at by a universal or other suitable joint or hinge 0.This tube h can serve as a passage for leading the compressed air fromthe ball z to the marking devices.

The pins 1), placed on either side of the tube It, enable one to turnthe disk a by means of the tube h without affecting the horizontalposition of the disk a.

The shell or casing b, inclosing the disk a is connected with thegun-carriage, and therefore with the ship, all the movements of which itfollows. The upper part of the said shell, as shown, is shapedspherically and concentrically with the point of suspension of the diska; but it may be cylindrical or of any other suitable shape. Oppositethe markingpoints e the said shell has connected with it a carrier forpaper or other indication-receiving surface 0'.

The method of using the instrument for practising firing is as follows:On the aforesaid piece of paper r, inside the shell or casing b, ahorizontal line is drawn with a vertical one cutting it. The verticalline and the center of the disk are in a plane which is set parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the gun. The disk a, is now turned so that thesights m 'n are in line with the mark. Now if the ship is perfectly atrest and the different points retain their relative positions onoperating the pneumatic device (for example, at the moment of firing)impressions are made by the marking-points e on the aforesaid paper 0'.A line connecting these impressions will correspond. exactly with thehorizontal line already traced on the paper 1", and the mark made by thecenter-marking point, situated below the front sight n, on the disk at,will fall on the point of intersection of the horizontal and verticallines. If the relative posi tions of the different parts were not asabove described,theshot would presumably not have hit the mark. It willbe understood that when the ship is under way the shell or casing b iscontinually moving on account of the motion of the ship, while the diska remains horizontal.

If at the moment of firing the different parts have not the rightrelative positions, then the line indicated by the marking-points e willnot correspond with the horizontal line or the impression leftby thecenter markingpoint will not fall on the point of intersection of thehorizontal and vertical lines. The extent and nature of thedeviation-that is to say, the distance and relative position of thecenter marking-point from and to the point of intersection of the lineson the paper and the angle formed by the marked line with the horizontallineshow how far and in which direction the position of the gun at themoment of firing deviated from the correct position. One can thusdetermine without actually firing the gun whether the mark wouldpresumably have been hit if the gun had been fired. 7 To best indicatethe rolling and pitching of the ship, the outermost of the markingpointse may be in a line at right angles to the point e, which is in line withthe longitudinal axis of the gun.

The necessary corrections for the speed of the ship itself, the speed atwhich the target or hostile ship is moving, and the allowance for wind,850., can easily be made by moving the paper, and consequently thevertical line thereon, to the right or left, as may be required.

The elevation at which the gun is laid is not recorded by thisinstrument.

The instrument can also be used for aiming guns, as it reduces to aminimum the difficulty of taking careful aim when the ship is in motionin a sea. For this purpose a horizontal bar or wire .9 is attached tothe disk at near the front sight n. On the shell or casing 1) of theinstrument and opposite to this bar or wire 3 another bar or wire t isfixed, which when the ship, and consequently the instrument, is at reststands opposi e to and in the same plane or parallel with the bar orwire 8 on the disk. The disk is now held either by means of theaforesaid tube h or otherwise, so that it cannot turn but still alwaysretains its horizontal position.

The sighting-line is set parallel to the vertical plane of thelongitudinal axis of the gun with such allowance for the speed of theship, &c., as may be necessary. The aiming is done by the sights m n onthe disk at, and as soon as the two bars or wires, the one on the disk 3and the other on the shell or casing t, are parallel and more or lessclose to one another the gun is fired. If the two bars or wires 8 andtare not parallel, it shows that the gun is not at that moment in asuitable position for firing, and the gunner must therefore either allowfor this in the sighting or he must wait until the motion of the shipbrings the two bars or wires parallel to one another.

The recording apparatus which marks the deviation from the horizontal isnot affected by this arrangement. It can thus be accurately ascertainedwhether the above-mentioned conditions were fulfilled at the givenmoment.

The instrument may be modified in different ways. horizontal andvertical lines on the recordingpaper may be effected by means of pointson the shell or casing or on the paper-carrier which leave marks on thepaper. When after removing the paper these marks are connected bystraight lines the horizontal and vertical lines are indicated, andcareful setting of the paper is thus rendered unnecessary. A cylindricalshape of the top of the shell or casing b, carrying the paper 0",greatly facilitates this modus operandi, the error arising therefrombeing but slight. Any other arrangementfor instance, an electric ormechanical-can be used instead of the pneumatic for actuating themarking devices.

Instead of placing the marking-points con the disk a and therecording-paper r on the casing 12 it is also possible to place thesemarking-points which may be substituted by any other marking deviceforinstance, by a wire For example, the marking of the or by a coloredpencil-on the casing 19 and the recording-paper on the disk a, whichalways remains in a horizontal position.

The instrument can also be fitted with a reflecting-mirror forindirectly observing the sighting-line.

The indication of the rising or falling of the ship and the gun at themoment of firing is important, as it may have a considerable influenceon the correct firing of the gun. These motions can be indicated by twomarking devices attached to the disk 0. at an angle of ninety degrees toone another, which at the moment of firing make impressions on a stripof paper fixed opposite to them. An arrangement which can be used forthis purpose is shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

A marking-piston is fitted with a small roller u, around which anelastic or yielding thread is wound, the ends of which are fastened attwo points, one over the other, on the shell or casing b. Themarking-piston has a second pointerv at the side of the usual centralone 6. When the part of the shell b opposite the piston rises relativelyto that part of the horizontal disk at, the second marking-pointer o ofthe piston is turned upward, for instance. Two marks are thus made onthe paper, and by their relative positions one can see in whichdirection the shell or casin g b was moving at the moment of firing.

Suitable stops may be provided to limit the movement of the pointer i;above or below a horizontal line passing through the pointer c. It isunderstood that these stops are so placed as to limit the motion ofthesmall roller, so that almost immediately upon a change in therelative positions of the shell and the disk taking place motion of theroller will be stopped. As a result the elastic or yielding thread slipson the roller without turning it any more, although as soon as thedirection of motion of the two above-mentioned parts is reversed theroller U is almost instantly turned in the opposite direction andbrought to rest by striking the second stopping-pin. By making thedistance between the two stopping-pins sufficiently small it is thuspossible to make the pointv take up its position almost immediatelyafter the commencement of the reversal of the motion, and upon theprojection of the piston carrying the two marking-points a record ismade which will indicate whether the shell, and consequently the gun,was moving upwardly or downwardly when said record was made.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In an apparatus for indicating and recording theaiming of naval guns, the combination of a recording-surface and amarker normally out of contact with the same, said elements being somounted with respect to each other that one occupies a normallyquiescent position and the other partakes of the movement of the ship,and means for bringing the said marking device into contact with therecording-surface at will when the gun is supposed to have been fired,substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of navalguns,the combination of two or more markers and a recording-surface somounted in respect to each other that one occupies a normally quiescentposition and the other partakes of the movement of the ship, saidmarkers being disposed in the same plane, but at different angles, andmeans for bringing said markers into contact with the recording-surfaceat the supposed moment of firing, substantially as specified.

3. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface anda marker so mounted in respectto each other that one occupies a normally quiescent position and theother partakes of the movementof the ship, sighting devices carried byone of said parts, and means for reciprocating the marker and therebybringing it into contact with the recording-surface at the supposedmoment of firing,

substantially as specified.

4. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of arecording-surface and a marker so mounted in respectto each other that one occupies a normally quiescent position and theother partakes of the movement of the ship, means for moving at will oneof said elements circumferentially in respect to the other and means forbringing the marker into contact with the recording-surface at thesupposed moment of firing, substantially as specified.

5. In apparatus for indicating and recordin g the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface and a marker so mounted inrespect to each other that one occupies a normally quiescent positionand the other partakes of the movement of the ship, sighting devicescarried by one of said members, means for moving one of said memberscircumferentially in respect to the other, and means for bringing themarker into contact with the recording-surface at the supposed moment offiring, substantially'as specified.

6. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface and a markerso mounted in respectto each other that one occupies a normally quiescent position and theother partakes of the movement of the ship, means for bringing saidmarking device into contact with't-he recording-surface at the sup posedmoment of firing, and sighting devices carried in part by thenormally'quiescent 7 member and in part by the movable member,substantially as specified.

7. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface and a marker so mounted inrespect to each other that one oc cupies a normally qniescentipositionwhile the other partakes of the movement of the ship, said markercomprising two markingpoints, one movable in respect to the other, meanswhereby the movement of the ship is caused to efieet change in therelation of said marking-points, and means for bringing themarking-points into contact with the recording-surface at the supposedmoment of firing, substantially as specified.

8. In apparatus for indicating and record ing the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface and a marker so mounted inrespect to each other that one occupies a normally quiescent positionand the other partakes of the movement of the ship, said marker beingconnected to the piston of a pneumatic projector, whereby it can bebrought into contact with the recording-surface at the supposed momentof firing, substantially as specified.

9. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface and a marker so mounted inrespect to each other that one oecupies a normally quiescent positionand the other partakes of the movementof the ship, a pneumatic projectorcarrying said marker and serving to bring the same into contact with therecording-surface at the supposed moment of firing, and an elastic bulbcommunicating with said pneumatic projector and supplying, the motivefluid therefor, substantially as specified.

10. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a recording-surface and a marker so mounted inrespect to each other that one oocupies a normally quiescent positionand the other partakes of the movement of the ship, said markercomprising a rotatable disk having connection with therecording-surface, whereby it is rotated by reason of the movement ofone of the parts in respect to the other, and said disk having also anaxial pointer anda non-axial pointer, substantially as specified.

11. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination ofacasingcontainingarecording-surface and a Weighteddisk or plate so mounted in said casing as to maintain a normallyhorizontal position therein, one or more longitudinally-reciprocablemarkers carried by said disk or plate, and means for projecting saidmarker or markers into contact With the recording-surface, substantiallyas specified.

12. In apparatus for indicating and recording the aiming of naval guns,the combination of a disk or plate centrally mounted so as to normallymaintain a horizontal position, a casing having a recording-surfaceconcentric with the axis of said mounting, one or more markers carriedby said disk or plate and means for projecting said marker or markersinto contact with the recording-surface, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES JAMES ADOLIH DICK.

Witnesses:

A. RAMSTAD, O. RAMSTAD.

